Improved machine for charging air with hydrocarbon vapors



H- B.. MYER. I Machine for Charging Air with Hydrocarbon Vapors.

i Patnted 'Feb. 27, 1866,

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H. B. MYER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,876, dated February27, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, H. B. MYER, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented new and useful ImprovementsinIlluminating-Gas Generators; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is afull and complete description of the construction andoperation of the apparatus concerned therein, and of the process andmanipulations involved in the said invention, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to the charging of atmospheric air with the vaporof gasoline (commonly so called) or naphthaline, it being the mostvolatile portion of mineral oil, or that which first passes over in theprocess of the distillation of the crude mineral oil or other likeproducts, and thereby producing an illuminating-gas without the aid ofartificial heat.

In the accomplishment of this object I first prepare an air-tight tank.(Shown atA in the accom panyin g drawings.) This tank is provided with afunnel, a, and stop-cock a, for the introduction of the gasolineor'light oil. The capacity of this tank should be in proportion to thequantity of oil to be operated upon, or the quantity of gas generated. Aglass pipe, 1), connecting with the tank both at the bottom and top,furnishes the means to observe at all times the quantity of oilcontained in the tank.

In the bottom of the tank I place a coiled tube, 0, closed at the innerend and perforated throughout its entire coiled length with numeroussmall holes barely large enough to admit the passage of air. This coiledtube enters the tank at or near the bottom, as shown at G in Figures 1,8, and 9.

Immediately above the coiled tube 0, I place a finely-perforated disk,D, (shown detached in Fig. 7,) which disk fills the whole diameter ofthe tank, and immediately above this I place another disk of smallerdiameter, which is stem F of these pipes leads to and connects havingits fulcrum at S.

with the barrel of an air-pump, G, by the working of which air is forcedthrough one or both the pipes C and E when the stop-cocks 0 or e areopen, and thus through the coil O and perforated disk before mentioned,and seen at d. (Shown also detached in Fig. 3.) The-air thus forced intothe tank A passes upward through the oil with which the tank issupplied, and thereby becoming saturated with the volatile portion ofsuch oil, by which means it becomes a good illuminating-gas.

H represents a tank for washing the gas. It is made air-tight, like theone previously described, and is provided with a funnel for theintroduction of the washing-fluid, as shown at h in Fig. 8. A pipe, I,connects with the top of the gas-generating tank A, and enters thebottom of the tank H, as shown in Figs. 2, 8, and 9, and terminates in aperforated coil or cross-pipe, as shown at I in Fig. 1.

Immediately above the coil or cross-pipe l, I place a perforated disk,J, (seen also detached in Fig. 6,) through which the gas passes after itescapes from the perforated pipe I. The top of this washing-tank isprovided with-a pipe, K, through which the gas is conveyed ,to thegas-holder L. This gas-holder is con structed in the usual form, theoutside wall of which is-open at the top, and is seen at M, and ispartly filled with water. The inner portion, L, is closed at the top,the lower end being open and resting in the water. Apipe, m, connectswith the pipe K and conveys the gas to the top of the gas-holder, asseen in Fig. 8. Another similar pipe, it, conveys the gas from thegas-holder to the burner.

The air-pump G can be worked by hand or, any other convenient power. Iprefer a weight, cord, and drum, as shown in Fig.5, and so arranged thatit can be wound up by hand like a clock. In Fig. 2 a top view of thesame device is shown. In Fig. 9 is also shown an elevation of theseveral parts. i

N represents the Windlass or drum around which the cord is wound. 0represents the pulley over which the cord passes. P represents thepropelling-weight. Q represents a crown or ratchet wheel. R represents alever The lever extends over the top of the gas-holder and is securedbetween guides. As the gas-hOIderbecomes charged with gas by the actionof the airpump, which is worked by the descending weight, the centralsection, L, rises, carrying with it the long arm of the lever B, andthis brings the short arm in contact with the teeth of the wheel Q, andthus the further action of the air-pump is prevented until the flow ofgas from the holder shall cause the central portion, L, to descend, thusreleasing the wheel Q,

when the pump will again commence to work and a new supply of gas willbe. produced, and thus the process can be continued to any desiredextent simply bywinding up the weight Gr.

The process of manufacturing gas for purposes ofillumination becomesvery simple with this'apparatus. The benzine, naphtha, naphthaline,gasoline, (different names for light mineral oil) is put into tank A.The air-pump G is set to work, and the air forced through the oilbecomes saturated with olefiant gas. This, by thepressure of theair-pump, is forced over intothe washing-tan k H, which should beonehalf or two-thirds full of proof spirits and lime-water, thougheither alone will answer the purpose, or even water may be used; but Iconsider the first-named mixture to be the best, the main object beingto free the gas from any carbonic acid or vapor of water it may contain.From this tank the gas passes over by pressure into the gas-holder, andby its increase or diminution therein regulates the working of the pump,as hereinbefore explained.

Thisapparatus is not expensive. It is so simple in its operations that ahousemaid may manage it. There is no danger from an explosion. Theapparatus can be used in any house, shop, manufacturing establishment,or mine, and even in railroad-cars, with the greatest safety. At thepresent rate at which the oil is sold in market the cost of gas perthousand feet is very much reduced belowthe present cost, while abettergas is obtained, and wholly free from unpleasant odor.

The gas can be manufactured without the aid of artificial heatat anytemperature above freezing Water, and even below this, where proofspirits or lime-water, or a solution of both or either of them, are usedfor washing the gas. Two separate tanks may be used for this purpose, ifdesired, the spirits being containedin one and the lime-water in theother, or water alone may be used.

This mode of manufacturing gas for the purpose of illumination ispeculiarly adapted for use in coalmines, for the reason that theapparatus is portable and can be used in any situation where lights areneeded. The burner can be completely inclosed in a wire-gauze and offera perfect protection against explosions. The light from the burning gasis much better than can be obtained from candles or common lamps. V

I do not wish it to be understood that I confine myself strictly to theform of apparatus herein described for preparing this gas, for it may bevaried to a considerable extentwithout departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as'new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is- V 1. Charging and saturating atmosphericair with the apor of the light hydrocarbon oils, substantially as andfor the purpose herein set forth.

2. For the accomplishment of this object, the perforated coiled tube Jin the bottom of the tank A, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with the perforated tube (1, the perforated disk D,for the purpose of more perfectly diffusing the air through the oil, asset forth.

4. In combination with the coiled tube 0 and perforated disk D, thedoubleconvex disks d and air-pipe In, as and forthe purpose specified.

5. The tank H, when provided with the perforated pipe I and perforateddisk J, as and for the purpose specified.

6. \Vashing the gas through a bath of water, spirits, or lime-water,either separate or combined, as and for' the purpose hereinset forth. v

7. Regulating the working ofthe air-pump G by the movement of thegas-holder L, the lever R, andwheel Q, or their substantial equivalents,as specified.

H. B. MYER.

WVitnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, J. HOLMES.

